
Trick -Winning Whist 

By Two Trophy Winners 




AVING been asked to give 
the system of play used 
by us with some success in the 
local clubs and tournaments, I 
have selected the following rules 
and comments from the note-book 
of my partner, Mrs. J. C. Gallagher, 
for the benefit of those who care 
to know our method, and not with 
any desire to instruct. 

Mary Queen 



OPENING LEADS. 



Count your cards, assort them carefully, alternating the 
red and black suits. 

Before the play form in your own mind some method 
of defense or attack, whether the hand is best suited to 
make a long suit or whether it would be best for roughing, 
and open accordingly. 

Not having trump strength, open the longest plain suit. 

Holding five or more trumps lead them. 

Holding three of each suit and four trumps, generally 
lead trumps. 

Make a short suit opening lead only when you hold 
four indifferent trumps (Knave or ten high), and all plain 
suits worthless. 

ACE LEADS. 

Lead Ace, holding the Ace and any four or more, in- 
cluding one court card. 

Never lead the Ace holding Ace, King and Queen (see 
Queen lead). 

Lead the Ace in all cases holding the Ace, Queen and 
the Knave. 

When the suit contains five or more, lead the Ace and 
follow with the Knave. When the suit is less than five 
lead the Ace and follow with the Queen to show a short 



suit. Holding Ace, Queen, Knave and ten, lead the 
Ace and follow with the ten. 

Lead Ace when the suit is six or more with or without 
a court card, and follow with the original fourth best, 
unless you hold the Ace and King, w'hen you follow with 
the King.. 

The Ace led indicates a long suit, except when followed 
by the Queen or some low card (not Knave), which could 
not be the fourth best of a five card suit. 

KING LEADS. 

The King is led only when the suit is exactly four, and 
must be supported by either the Ace cr the Queen. 
Holding the Ace and King and exactly four in suit, lead 
the King and follow with the Ace. Holding King and 
Queen and two others, lead the King, and if it holds the 
trick, follow with the original fourth best, as your partner 
must have the Ace. 

Holding Ace, King, Queen and one, lead King and 
follow with the Queen. 

QUEEN LEADS. 

Lead the Queen, holding Queen and any four or more 
including the King, but not the Knave. 

Holding King, Queen and three or more small cards, 
lead Queen, and if it holds the trick, follow with the 
original fourth best card. 



Holding Ace, King, Queen and two or more small 
cards, lead the Queen and follow with the Ace if the suit 
was exactly five, follow with the King if the suit was or- 
iginally more than five. 

Never lead the Queen holding the King, Queen and 
Knave. 

HNAVE LEADS. 

Lead the Knave, holding the King, Queen and Knave 
and any two or more cards. 

Holding the King, Queen and Knave and two or more 
small cards, lead Knave; if the Knave holds the trick 
follow with the King if the suit was originally five, or 
with the Queen if the suit was longer than five. 

Holding Ace, 1£ing, Queen, Knave and one or more 
others, lead the Knave, and follow with the Ace if the 
suit was five; follow with the King if the suit was six, 
and with the Queen if the suit was originally seven or 
more. 

TEN LEADS. 

Lead the ten holding Queen, Knave, ten and any one or 
more small cards. 

Never lead the ten when the suit contains any card 
higher than the Queen. 

nine: leads. 

Lead the nine when holding Ace, Queen, ten and nine. 

Lead the nine holding Ace, Knave, ten and nine, or 
when it is the fourth best card of a suit containing the 
King, Knave, ten and nine. 



TRUMP LEADS. 



Lead trumps as you would plain suits when you hold 
three or more honors ; two court cards supported by any 
card as high as a ten, or when you hold any combination 
of seven or more, otherwise lead the original fourth best. 

When not opening a suit with a high card always lead 
the original fourth best. 

When you open a suit with a high card and it holds the 
trick, follow with the original fourth best unless you 
still hold the command. 

FORCED LEADS. 

When obliged to lead a suit containing only three 
cards, lead high if the best card is the Knave or smaller ; 
lead low if the best card is higher than the Knave, unless 
you know from previous play that it is your partner's 
suit, When you should always give a strengthening card. 

Holding Ace and two small cards lead low. 

Holding King and two small cards lead low. 

Holding Queen and two small cards lead low. 

Holding Ace, King and one small card lead King and 
follow with the Ace. 

Holding King, Queen and one small card lead King 
and follow with the low card. 

Holding Queen, Knave and one small card lead Queen 
and follow with the Knave. 

Holding Knave and two small cards or ten and two 
small cards, lead the best card. 



When obliged to lead from a two-card suit, lead the 
better unless you hold the King and one, when you lead 
low. 

In leading short suits generally choose a suit in which 
you hold a sequence and lead the highest card. 
Holding King, Knave and one, lead Knave. 
Holding Ace, ten and one, lead the ten. 

SECOND HAND PLAY. 

The second hand play is generally low, unless you hold 
two or more high cards of equal value; when you play 
the lower of the two. 

Holding Ace and Queen, generally finesse the Queen, 
second hand, unless you have strong trumps and hope to 
bring your high cards in after trumps have been ex- 
hausted. 

Holding the King and one low card, or the Queen and 
one, play low except when the eight or nine is led, when 
you should cover it. 

When an honor is led from strength and you hold the 
Ace, second hand, generally play it the first time around. 

As a rule play second hand as you would lead, always 
trying to take a trick with the lowest possible card. 

When trump strength is with you play a more back- 
ward game, as your high cards may be used to advantage 
when trumps have been exhausted from the adversaries. 

7 



Always play the command of a suit, second hand, the 
second time around unless you know a lower card will 
take the trick. 

TRUMP SECOND HAND. 

Generally play low unless wishing to stop the trump 
lead. 

Holding King and a small card, play King except on 
the ten led from strength. 

Holding Queen and a small card, play Queen second 
hand. 

Holding King, Queen and one small card, play Queen 
second hand. 

Holding Queen, Knave and one, play Knave second 
hand. 

Holding King, Queen and two small cards, play low. 

THIRD HAND PLAY. 

On your partner's lead of a low card, play your best 
when trying to take the trick, or with two or more honors 
in sequence play the lowest of the sequence. 

Play low on any honor led by your partner, except 
when holding Ace and only one low card, on partner's 
lead of Knave for strength, when you should play Ace to 
unblock. 

If your partner leads a card as high as a nine'generally 
pass it. 

8 



When your partner leads a ten from strength pass it, 
unless holding the Ace, King and one indifferent card, 
when you play King and return Ace to unblock. 

Holding Ace, Knave and one, on your partner's lead 
of Queen from strength play Knave to unblock. 

Holding King, Queen and one, on partner's lead of 
Ace from strength play Queen to unblock. 

It is best never to finesse on your partner's original 
lead until the second time around, unless trump strength 
has been declared with you. 

In trumps never finesse on your partner's original lead, 
but the second time around finesse as deeply as possible. 

When trumps are led from weakness or towards the 
end of the hand finesse. 

Always return your partner's suit before showing your 
suit, unless you know it will be trumped or that it is 
thoroughly established, or When you hold the first round 
with a card as low or lower than the Queen. 

Always return partner's trump lead unless you know 
trumps were opened from four (showing three of each 
suit and four trumps) and you have nothing to make. 

The third hand should try to take the trick and return 
the suit, always returning the higher of two or the lowest 
of three remaining cards. When you hold the command 
it should • always be returned or played the second time 
around. 



9 



UNBLOCIilNG. 



When you and your partner hold the entire control of 
a suit, the weaker hand should give up to the stronger. 

If your partner leads, showing a suit of five or more, 
and you hold four of that suit, unblock by playing your 
third best card on the first lead, your second best card on 
the second lead, holding your lowest card until last. 

If your partner leads the Knave from strength, and 
you hold only the Ace and one small card, play the Ace 
and return the small card after trumps have been ex- 
hausted. 

Holding Ace, Knave and one, on Queen led from 
strength play Knave to unblock. 

Holding Ace, King and one on a ten lead, play King 
and return Ace to unblock. 

Holding Ace and small ones or King and small ones 
on a ten lead, play low the first time around, but play the 
high card the second time around to unblock. 

Holding King, Queen and one on Ace lead from 
strength, play Queen to unblock. On partner's lead of 
nine use rule of eleven to unblock. 

FOURTH HAND PLAY. 

Take the trick if against you with the lowest possible 
card. 

10 



TRUMP SIGNALS. 



When you are not trying to take the trick, play any 
unnecessarily high card, and then a lower one to command 
your partner to lead trumps. 

You should signal for trumps holding five trumps if 
one is an honor. Signal for trumps with more than five 
even without honors. 

Signal holding four trumps, three of them honors and 
unusually good suits. 

With five indifferent trumps, do not signal unless you 
or your partner have something to make. 

• Call for trumps in any case where you would lead them, 
if you had the lead. 

Any discard of a card as high as an eight or nine of 
an unplayed suit the first three or four rounds is a call 
for trumps. 

When an honor is turned to your right, a lead of an 
eight or nine or any irregular play is a call for trumps. 
The third hand player should try to take the trick and 
give a strengthening card through the honor turned, en- 
abling his partner to catch the turned card. 

You may show your partner four trumps if, when not 
trying to take the trick you play your second lowest card 
the first time around, third lowest card the second time 
around and your lowest card the third time around. 

11 



THE, ECHO. 



When your partner leads trumps and you hold exactly 
three, indicate it by playing unnecessarily high and then 
a lower card. 

To show strength in trumps (four or more) after your 
partner has either signaled or led trumps, play an un- 
necessarily high card and then a lower one on the first 
plain suit that is led. 

When your partner leads trumps and you hold four 
indifferent ones, play the third best the first time around, 
the second best the second time around so that the lowest 
card may be missed, and not having made an echo your 
partner may be able to know you had four originally. 

LEADING TRUMPS AFTER A SIGNAL. 

When your partner has called for trumps, lead your 
best card if you are weak (holding three or less), your 
smallest card if you are strong, unless you hold the com- 
mand when you should always lead that. 

Holding Ace and two small cards, lead Ace and then 
second best card. 

Holding Ace and three small ones, lead Ace and follow 
with the original fourth best. 

ECHO AFTER A FORCE. 

If you have four trumps and have been forced before 
your partner signals or leads trumps, echo to show you 
had four originally. 

12 



force: after a signal. 



If your partner has signaled and you held four or more 
trumps, trump in with your third best and lead the second 
best, unless you hold the command or two honors. 

DISCARDS. 

Always discard for the best protection of your own 
hand. 

The original discard should be from weakness, unless 
trump strength has been declared against you, when you 
should discard once from your best protected suit to show 
your partner what it is. 

At the beginning of a hand, on a lead where your 
partner is holding the trick you may show your trump 
strength or weakness by your discard. If you are weak 
in trumps and wish to be forced discard a low card — 
the two, three, or four — a discard of the five, six, or 
seven will show four trumps, and a discard of the eight, 
nine, ten or higher card is a call for trumps to be led. 

Any discard of a card as high as an eight or nine of 
an unplayed suit is a call for trumps. 

the: reverse discard. 

After trumps have been led any discard of an un- 
necessarily high card and then a lower one tells the part- 
ner to reverse the discard. 

13 



If your best suit is a short suit and a discard would 
weaken it, take a poor suit, when the adversaries are 
leading trumps, and discard first a high card, then a lower 
one, which tells the partner to reverse the discard. 

When your partner is leading trumps, if possible dis- 
card from your weakest suit, but if by doing so you have 
to unguard an honor or blank an Ace, make the reverse 
discard by playing a high card and then a lower one from 
your long suit. 

FORCING. 

Rarely force your partner unless you hold four or 
more trumps or he has shown weakness in trumps. 

Always force the adverse strong trump hand. 

If strong in trumps, unless very strong, do not trump a 
doubtful trick second hand, but if weak trump fearlessly. 

If your partner has led and has not led a trump, you 
may force him, but it is optional whether he takes it 
or not. 

If you pass a doubtful trick it shows protection in 
trumps. 

THE RULE OF ELEVEN. 

When the fourth best card is led, if you subtract the 
face value of that card from eleven it will show you how 
many cards are out that can hold the trick. 

The rule of eleven should be carefully used by both the 
second and third hand players whenever a card as high 
as the seven, eight, or nine is led. 



SHORT SUIT. 

Avoid opening a hand with a short suit as much as 
possible, but you may make a short suit lead to open a 
hand when you hold four weak trumps, nothing better 
than the Knave, with the other suits impossible to 
establish. 

When leading short take your very shortest suit, lead- 
ing a singelton or the higher of a two card suit except 
when you hold the King and one. 

Never lead from a three card suit to open a hand. 



15 



GENERAL NOTES. 

W atch carefully the fall of the cards, to know what has 
been played ; when, how and by whom, is the all-important 
part of the game. Much may be gained by noticing the 
adversaries, their methods and eccentricities, for in Whist, 
he who hesitates is lost. 

When your partner leads the fourth best card and it is 
taken by a card as low or lower than a Queen, do not 
return that suit immediately. 

When you open a suit with a high card and have re- 
maining two high cards of equal value, follow with the 
higher if the suit was four or less, the lower if the suit 
was five or more. 

Try to make a long suit with only two or three trumps 
when you are the opening leader, by showing best suit 
established and then leading trumps if you have a reentry 
card in every suit. 

The weaker the trump lead the stronger must all 
suits be. 

If you are the opening leader and hold five trumps, it 
is best to lead them, but with no good suit you may lead 
them as if you had only four (your fifth best instead of 
fourth best), in which case your partner, thinking you 
have three of every suit and four trumps, need not re- 
turn them. 

ifi 



Always try to lead through strength and up to weak- 
ness. It is wise even to lead through trump strength 
when you have very good suit or when your trumps are 
equal to the adversaries. 

When trumps have been exhausted lead plain suit as 
you would trumps if you have any card of reentry. 



When trumps are out you may blank an Ace if your 
suit is thoroughly established. 



When your partner leads through a suit never return it. 



When your partner leads up to strength return the lead 
at once. 



If you were obliged to trump holding five trumps, then 
lead them as they are. 

Always lead trumps as they are and echo to show what 
you had originally. 

After discarding from your long suit lead it as it was. 



Do not signal with five trumps unless one is an honor, 
but you should lead them if you or your partner have 
anything to make. 

17 



When the adversaries are signaling or leading trumps, 
give your partner a card you think he can trump, unless 
you know he holds the best trump. 

In leading up to weakness always lead a strengthening 
card, such as Queen, Knave or ten. 



In leading your partner's suit give a strengthening 
card, if it should hold the trick give your next best card. 



When unable to return your partner's trump lead, give 
the lowest card of your weakest suit. 



When trumps have been exhausted if your partner 
should make a regular King lead and follow with the Ace, 
play a high card and then a lower one to show that you 
cannnot take the third round of the suit. 



When your partner makes a forced lead of a high card 
never cover it except when you hold both Ace and King 
and can make a third lead of the suit. 



Try to take away the adversary's last card of his part- 
ner's suit so it will be impossible to give that lead when 
trumps are exhausted. 

Only lead the thirteenth card to force an adversary's 
strong trump hand or place the lead. 

18 



When leading trumps if you find they are with you, 
your partner and the fourth hand, discontinue trumps and 
try to give your partner the lead, allowing him to lead 
through so you may finesse and catch more of the ad- 
versaries' trumps. 

To hold a forchette you must hold the card higher and 
the card lower than the card led. 



Second hand should not cover an honor led late in the 
hand with the Ace unless the King is the honor led. 



If your partner should lead Queen from strength and 
you hold Ace, Knave and small one, play Knave on the 
Queen to unblock, unless you hold four trumps, when you 
play your Ace, exhaust trumps and return the Knave and 
then the low one. 

Second hand should cover a supporting card led to 
strength when by doing so you can make a low card a 
command for another round. 



It is not necessary to unblock on any four-card suit led 
by your partner. 

Avoid changing suits as much as possible. 

In order to stop a cross ruff, trump in with a high card, 
though it be an Ace, and lead the trump. 

19 



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Howell System of Duplicate Whist for Pairs, 

The Howell System comprises a set of large cards, which are 
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